Projected starting lineup and rotation for the Timberwolves' NBA preseason game

The wait is finally over. The Minnesota Timberwolves will announce their preseason schedule for the 2024-25 season on Friday evening, with a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers just hours away.

It will be the first of five prep contests for Minnesota. After facing the same opponent on the opening night of the regular season in Los Angeles, the Timberwolves have a full week off before hosting Philadelphia at the Iowa Wolves' stadium and then traveling to New York and Chicago before returning home in the preseason finale against Denver to compete.

These games will be the first opportunity to see the new-look Wolves with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in the mix with the rest of the roster. It will also be the first time that everyone on the roster will be able to compete in a five-on-five game against opponents other than their own teammates in a true NBA setting.

As of this writing, there have been no official reports that Minnesota planned to keep anyone out of the preseason. The Timberwolves will likely go with the starting lineup they plan to use at the start of the regular season, with Julius Randle taking Karl-Anthony Towns' old spot as starting forward.

With that in mind, we can also expect Chris Finch to draft most or all of the starters relatively early. This starting five may play most of the first quarter, but don't expect there to be much action for them beyond that. Preseason is all about trying out different lineups, competing against younger and less experienced players, and figuring things out on the fly since the games don't count toward the rankings.

Aside from the five starters, expect minutes to be on the line for almost everyone currently on the Wolves roster. With training camp ending Friday, Finch likely already has a clear idea of ​​where he thinks certain players can help, and he'll use newer players in the way he sees fit.

Look for Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. to get some key minutes. In addition, the three new players Minnesota signed specifically to training camp contracts should also get momentum: Skylar Mays, Jaedon LeDee and Eugene Omoruyi. Once Finch takes his first timeout and breaks through the lineup, expect everything to be on the line as to who gets minutes.